Killing Your Sweet Breath - Chapter 57

Chapter 29.1

The few days she spent at the Frost residence were relatively peaceful.

Elizabeth’s words from the day Winter arrived still surfaced in her mind from time to time, but she could understand where Elizabeth was coming from. More than that, the couple had been nothing but sincerely kind to her.

Every meal was prepared with care, and her accommodations were as comfortable as they could be.

When the maids reported that Winter had struggled to sleep on the first night, Elizabeth personally brewed a special tea for her, knowing that ordinary remedies wouldn’t provide proper rest.

It was made from a colorless, odorless seaweed harvested from the deep sea. Normally, it was dried, ground into powder, and used when hunting large animals, but in small, controlled doses, it acted as a harmless sleep aid.

Thanks to that, Winter had slept soundly for the past few nights, without a single nightmare.

This morning, Johan had invited her to go horseback riding. He handed her the reins of a new horse he acquired and spent the entire morning teaching her how to ride, staying by her side the whole time.

With proper sleep and some long-overdue exercise, it finally felt as though all the food Johan had insisted she eat was being put to use.

“I heard you had some experience, but you’re handling the horse even better than I expected.”

“For someone who’s praising my riding skills, you sure look nervous. I doubt you’d be this concerned about your knights.”

“You are not the same as them, Lady Winter.”

Seated atop his black horse, Johan carried himself with all the authority befitting a former commander of Helgram’s knights.

And yet, the moment Winter’s horse made even the slightest unexpected movement, his anxious expression was impossible to miss. Honestly, it was more entertaining watching him panic than focusing on the ride itself.

“It’s been so long since I last rode. I was a child, I think. But once I took the reins, it all came back to me.”

“I’d like to gift this one to you, but it’s still young. Taking it to the capital would be too much of a challenge. That’s the only pity.”

“I agree. I doubt I’d find such a beautiful horse in the capital,” Winter said as she ran her fingers through the horse’s mane.

She wasn’t just saying it to be polite. She meant it.

The pure white horse was young but stunning. Its sturdy build, large eyes framed by long lashes, and sleek, glossy mane made it a true sight to behold.

Even the feathering around its ankles was perfectly groomed, swaying elegantly with each step.

Knights going into battle preferred warhorses bred for endurance, but those who rode for leisure sought out horses like these—ones bred for beauty as much as for strength.

Since this horse was bred for sport rather than war, it was one of the most extravagant luxuries.

And not only was it breathtaking, but its capabilities made it worth a fortune on the market.

“When I leave, it might be best to put him back on the market. It would be wonderful if Lady Elizabeth rode him, but she doesn’t seem too fond of outdoor activities.”

“She never has been.”

“I’ve noticed she spends a lot of time making lace. She’s incredibly skilled. Does she sell her pieces?”

“No. The only person who ever got to wear the clothes she made was our daughter.”

A wistful look crossed Johan’s face as he spoke of the past, but he quickly shook it off and turned back to Winter.

“Hmm, when did His Grace say he would arrive?”

“I expect he’ll be here before lunch.”

“I see…”

After returning to the mansion to freshen up and change, Winter came downstairs to find the table set for their final meal.

As always, the table was stacked high with meat, and off to the side sat the raspberry cake Johan had been trying to get her to eat for days.

Today, it felt like their way of wordlessly insisting she eat everything before she left, making her smile despite the bittersweet feeling settling in her chest.

At the wedding, they had barely exchanged a few words, and even here, they had only spent a handful of days together.

Yet their disappointment was so evident that as Winter took her seat, she wasn’t sure what to say.

All she could manage were the usual pleasantries about how well they had treated her.

But seeing the shadow in Johan’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse them today. So she ate every kind of meat on the table and even forced down a slice of raspberry cake.

At last, the meal ended, and the butler announced that Van Helgram had arrived.

Winter gathered her few belongings and stepped outside. There, in front of a carriage bearing the Helgram seal, stood Van Helgram, waiting for her.

The two locked eyes, neither speaking a word.

It had been a while since they last saw each other, and with unresolved feelings lingering between them—on top of the days she had spent with the Frosts—it felt awkward to be the first to speak.

In the end, it was Van Helgram who broke the silence.

“Let’s go, Winter.”

She had thought him a shameless man.

But even he didn’t seem entirely at ease. This time, he wasn’t greeting her with his usual, blinding smile.

After offering him a small hello, Winter turned back to the Frosts, whom she felt indebted to.

Just then, a maid standing beside Elizabeth handed her a box.

It was wrapped with a velvet ribbon shaped like a rose. It looked like a very expensive gift.

“What… is this?”

She knew it was a gift, but it was so unexpected that she turned to Elizabeth in confusion.

“Open it once you arrive. I hope it suits you, Lady Winter.”